Improvement in railway-switches



track.

together.

. intml Sisme WILLIAM H. STAATS, OF

@anni milliliter.

CRESCENT,l NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 102,724, dated May 3, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY-'SWITCHES The Schedule referred`to in these Letters Patent; and making part of the sama To all whoni it may concern:

Drawings.

Figure l is a plan view ofa railroad-switch, having my improvement attached theteto, the switch being set to direct a car or train ot cars approaching it upon the side track.

Figure 2 is a similar view, with the switch so set as to direct the approaching train upon the main Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on liuc a: x of fig. 1. V

Corresponding letters denote corresponding parts in each of the iigures.

A A, in the drawings, refer to the rails of the main track'of a railroad, which are to be laid in the usual manner, and held in position by any of the approved methods in usc for that purpose.

B B refer to the rails ot'jhe side track, which a're\ of the usual form, andare to be arranged in the usual manner.

C C refer to -the movable portions of the rails, which constitute what is termed the switch, they being pivoted to the block or chair which supports thc end of the permanent rail, with which each one is joined.

D D represent guard-rails, which may .be of the usual form, and be placed in the proper position to guide the wheels in the right direction.

E represents a rod or bar, of metal, which joins the outer ends of the bar C, which constitute the switch,

This rod passes through said bars near their outer or beveled ends, it being firmly secured thereto, so that it cannot move therein, but so as to move only with them.

.F represents a box, vof metal, which incloses the central portion of the rod E, it being secured to thc sliding plate G in such a manner as to move with it.

This box has a removable cap upon its upper surface, so that accessmay be had-to its interior at anytime by removing said cap. v

G represents a plate, of inetal, which extends across the track, and may rest in guides secured to a tie, or

any other suitable portion ofthe track. The position of this bar is directly under the box F and rod E, its otlice being to communicate motion to such box and rod, through the medium ot a lever attached to one of its outer ends.

H-H represent spiral springs, which surround that portion of the rod E which is within the box F. One' end of cach ot' these springs. rests against the inner .end' surfaces 'of said box, while their opposite ends both'bear upon a collar formed or placed upon the. rod E, at or near its center.

The arrangement ot' these springs is such, that'the bar G, which moves the switch or changeable portions of the rails, may move through a greater distance than such movable portions of the rails, and thus insure the holding of their beveled portions firmly against the fixed rails, so as to prevent the possibility of the wheels or their flanges from enteringbctween the movable and fixed rails, and thus guiding the car or train on to 4the wrong track.

l am aware that itis not new to connect switchrails by means of springs, combined with the switchrod in such a manner that the switch-rails can be Witnesses:

A. FowLEn, JACOB G. RVUNKLE. 

